Bird order turnaround time?

leaving me with a fairly bitter taste in my mouth which is going to stick while riding (sounds silly but holds true in my experience).

Cancel the order then and get something else.

Starting to feel like that is the direction to take ^.

Managed to get a response on IG. Warehouse overwhelmed apparently. Would have been nice to be kept in the loop though, or at least have a lead time on the website.

Last time one of my bird orders was delayed, I called them on the phone, got profuse apologies and a fairly generous gesture of goodwill upgrades.

One of the few UK dealers/makers that are still really responsive to telephone calls and care about their customers without the need to hit up social media to get a response.

I'm not wanting to gouge them for free things, they are a business operating in hard times. I'd just like to know where I stand with respect to getting my frame a month after they arrived with Bird!

Patiently waiting on mine,

Was told that it was in the build Q, and they would get to it last week or this.

They seem good guys as I have gone for a bit of a picky build, maybe I'll give them a chaser call tomorrow.

Hope it comes soon, the dusty golfie is calling me..

Have you called them? They're usually really helpful and straightforward on the phone.

Also got a Bird on order and I would agree that this is out of character. They are busy busy I believe and I think the frames (Aeries 9 and Forge) arrived when some of the staff were due holiday also.

It'll be worth the wait but can understand the frustration as the weather's amazing

It's half term this week, so people might be doing childcare which slows things down.

Wot do you mean, no bike. Have you not got others ?

All of those are valid explanations, and I can sympathise, but keeping your customers in the dark is just frustrating. If I knew when they landed that it would be a 5 week wait I would have been a bit annoyed, but at least I could have planned. Instead I was told "mid-may", so arranged for a fork service and lengthen in week 2 of May so that I was prepared, and have now sat waiting with not even a token gesture of reaching out to let me know what is going on, every bit of info has come as a result of me contacting them or you good folk above!

Seems to be uncharacteristically bad customer service, but still...... annoyed.

@fossy no I don't, apart from my commuting road bike. Please don't let the others on here know, I don't want banning. I don't work in IT either, or drive an Audi/T5 or burn wood to brew artisanal hand-spanked coffee, so I'm on thin ice....

Just had this from Bird :

"Hi, just a quick not to say sorry we didn’t get your bike to you in May as we’d hope. We’ve got the frames in now but with a little shipping delay we’re just a touch behind on shipping. With a big on this week and next we hope to have almost all orders shipped by the end of next week (9/2). "

Better late than never I suppose..... Would have been nice to know this 3-4 weeks ago when they first encountered problems. Hopefully they have learned about proactive customer service now and not just reactive.

Any frame yet? Hoping my complete bike ships this week although busy week so might not get a massive first ride in anyway..

@rockthreegozy Nope, nothing, not even a dispatch note or estimate. Just the email saying "give us a week or so, you've waited so long anyway without being told anything, what is another week? ".

Hmm not good. Definitely seems like something has gone wrong, I'm not chasing for now as I had been racing the past three weekends so a new bike in the middle of that wasn't high priority.

I would say if you want an update phoning might be better, my emails have taken a while to see a reply this year.

Hopefully they will dispatch this week but from previous orders you will just get an email once it dispatches pretty much.

Have you demoed one? What size did you go for?

Yes, demoed at the Perth event. Went ML at 6ft/34"leg, L felt too long for chainstay and was a handful on the downs (faster when concentrating, lethal when not!). ML felt superb though.....

What about you?

I have to hope that I'm not end of the queue as there was still stock of all sizes when I ordered.

Yeah I also managed to demo. I went ML at 5'10 and I'm currently on a slightly shorter ML AM9.

I went Blurple with the 23 Lyriks and Formula coil, Cura 4 brakes also.

They are pretty good with live stock levels usually. It will be worth the wait but better communication would be good for sure.

Sounds like a nice build. Silver frame here with formula coil and parts transplant from the old bike. 2020 Lyriks bumped to 170mm.

I ordered an Aeris 9, 10th March.
Been radio silence since until chasing them.

I did ask them to get hold of a 2023 shock, which they said would be 15th May - Fine I thought. I didn't want a 2021 shock fitted on a new 2023 bike which is all the website offered for coils.

Called Friday 19th May as heard nothing from them since they took payment back in March - shock had arrived with them and bike was allagedly 4th in line to be built, told it would be built and arrive by the following Tuesday (23rd) and if not Wednesday(24th).

Nothing further heard, those days pass and I call again on 25th.. Told its 4th in build queue (not sure why still same position) and due to bank holiday it will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday (30 or 31st).

Those days rolled around and again zero comms, and no bike. Not a single update has been received without nagging them for it - you'd think after saying it'll be two days then it wasn't they could at least drop a brief email explaining a delay.

Called again 1st June (third time), explained I'd called twice above and that I just wanted an honest answer on when my bike will be available. Not just 'Oh itll be two days' and a repeat dissapointment again.
I was told the owner (Ben?) is away, they are super busy and are trying to get a fleet built for Glencoe (I assume demo or hire bikes?).
He confirmed my bike was still waiting to be built and he'll print the order now and get it into the build queue, I then got an email confirming 'my bird is nearly ready' and should be 3-5 days further.

My experience has been rubbish, I'm not sure how they've won the awards they've won for Customer service. Maybe when they were smaller and had a better customer focus, seems things have changed.

I paid very early to get it in the build queue, and that was now 3months ago. it was 'pre order for may delivery'

If I don't see a bike by Friday I'll be cancelling. It's been a shambles and the fact they seem to be trying to churn out a demo fleet before the bike I ordered and paid for 3 months ago leaves me a touch peeved.

Rant over!

Great, mine was ordered 26th March so I'm guessing that I can expect mine in July.......

@jake123 which shock did you go for? I'd assumed that all shocks being fitted would be current/2023 models?

WTAF are they doing building a demo fleet up before they have dealt with existing pre-paying customers bikes?

Have to say I agree, I have no idea how they won customer service awards if this is how they behave once they have your money. I'd assumed, given their rep, that I was just having bad luck, seems it is a general thing at the moment. I guess you see the "real" face and attitude of the company when there is some pressure.

Whilst reading this and it's not ideal... My dealings with them have been perfect. Mostly parts ordered usually as they sometimes knock things out cheap, but they've been incredibly quick with it. I bought an Aether frame which was sent out the day i ordered and paid for it... So the above thread may not make the best reading, but it's not always been the case. 🙂

Currently looking at the cotic site, debating the extra cost for a rocket max. Had previously written it off, despite the greater aesthetic appeal, due to price. Decision would already have been made given this debacle if they had some nicer colours. At least Cotic say upfront what lead times are.

A Bird for me is a generic bike... it's just a bike... a Cotic is something special though. Just a bit of a WOW factor in a Cotic.

Hey guys, just jumping in to say sorry for the delays, we had aimed for may delivery for everyone, but some are going to be this week and next, so a slip of up to 14 days for some orders. We're very sorry about that. Due to inconsistent assembly we're having to disassemble/rebuild each frame to ensure that everything is done right, and thats adding a couple of hours per build, which is having a knock on delay in shipping out orders. Doesn't sound like much, but when you have to do that to a hundred+ bikes, thats several man weeks of work to fit in. We'd hoped we'd be able to squeeze it in but thats not worked out.

On the demo bikes, they're actually rental bikes that were ordered at the end of last summer's season (Sept maybe) and are paid-for bikes for Glencoe - we've not built any new demo bikes as yet, as we're still focused on sending out the customer bikes.

@Shackleton (unsure if tagged correctly, but with reference to above question!)

I went for a RS super deluxe ultimate coil.
assume because the new model has recently been released with the hydraulic bottom out adjuster they still had old stock to clear.
I emailed to specify I'd like the most recent shock fitted which they agreed to, they did explain it may cost a touch more though.

A little over a year ago I ordered one of the Aeris 120 frames that were on clearance. The build was obvs less than a full bike, but the process was excellent and they even delayed shipment so I could guarantee I would be in to sign for it and not have to go chasing around delivery company depots. From what I experienced and what I've heard, they are extremely open to a phone call and are up front with you when you have that 'human' contact.

Not that this detracts from the folk on here who have had less good experiences, but (given my experience) I would be inclined to believe that this is an example of a fundamentally good company having a rare bad patch rather than a cultural rot setting in. As above, if they are taking enough of an interest to notice issues with pre-build and rectifying it themselves, that reflects better than some manufacturers who have just sent out whole swathes of frames with major QC failings like shock mounts welded in the wrong place so tyres buzz seat tubes.

I suspect Ben is currently having a robust conversation with the supplier to get that fixed, working through the backlog, and trying to get back on track. As well as making lots of tea for the people actually on the builds.

My advice with Bird - if you've got an issue, speak to them directly.

When I ordered it was for May delivery. It's only the 6th June now so hardly the end of the world is it?

Watching the good weather and dry trails pass you by, waiting for a delayed bike, can be frustrating. Each to their own.

@jake123 thanks, understand now!

Have had an email saying it should be dispatched tomorrow and with me on Thursday. Fingers crossed!

Great news. Mine has also progressed to build queue. Should be good, will need to check I have everything I need finishing touches wise..

Mine was dispatched yesterday and now arriving today according to APC tracking.

Bird did call yesterday and update me, said that the 180mm Linkage parts are delayed (no huge issue for me, but I had one on order for possible future use)

So hopefully bike be here this afternoon.

I've gone for XL at 6ft4, 34" leg. Demoed at tweedlove last year and rode a few other bikes since then went back and ordered one of these!

Excited for it now

Had nothing but good experiences with Bird customer service and their bikes. I am on my 3rd now and I think it will be the last full suss I own before I move to an eBike in a couple of years. Absolutely no reason to change it, it has been the perfect bike for me.

I hope that the response from Ben in this thread, and your ownership experience, when the bike finally arrives, will make up for the poor experience so far. I think you have been unlucky but I am sure Bird will learn from your example and make improvements.

Picked up an Aeris 9 frame from their Pitfichie store yesterday evening. We'd hoped to get the frame last week but it seems everything has been on a wee bit backed up but things are moving. Saved me having to build it up in a hurry in time for Glenshee SDA. 🙂

One very happy youngster now as he's loving the sparkly Blurple. Fingers crossed you get the bike this week @Shackleton.

I ordered my Blurple Aeris 9 1 week ago, I'm hoping it turns up in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to ride it.
I've had 2 previous bikes from Bird and I can't fault their customer service, always happy to chat on the phone to help decide specs, parts orders have turned up in record time and when I had a problem they have gone above and beyond.

Frame arrived today. Still in its box, hopefully once dog is walked, child is in bed and MIL is dealt with I can start the build!

Thanks @benpinnick and the bird team for getting it out in time for the weekend.

Great news. Photos when you get it built please.

Lol GTF on with it.

Good result. If it rides anything like my Birdy, you'll love it.

Also forgot to say - there is now a solid headbadge! A little thing but it looks good and makes me smile (more) 🙂

Now I just have to solve the cable routing around the BB and stop it rubbing on the frame. Is that what the rubber tube supplied is for? I'd assumed that was for the internal dropper routing but I can see some tube like things around the cables/hoses just behind the main pivot of the swingarm on some of the photos online.

Now I just have to solve the cable routing around the BB and stop it rubbing on the frame.

There are two cable guides under the BB, for the brake hose and mech cable.

These are effective at stopping the cables rubbing on the frame. My gear one fell off, causing the cable to wander into the chainring, but Bird have sent me a replacement. Hopefully that will stay put.

Quality control on overseas assembly is a nightmare. You either put someone in the factory at great expense, or you check everything at the UK end and deal with what you find.

Seems like the assembly on those frames is not as good as they had hoped.

Built and shakedown ride done down heartbreak Ridge in Ballater. Awesome machine!

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Looks great, enjoy! 😎

I love my Aether 7 🙂

My order progressed to Awaiting build slot on Tuesday. How long do you guys think it will take until it gets built?

I'm assuming you guys have received your bikes by now, if so post some pics.

My bike should be arriving this week after I requested a delay due to being in holiday last week and then there was a delay in the Hope hubs delivery to the nest.

Fingers crossed the weather plays nice and I can test ride it one evening this week.